50 Best Cocktail Bars in Columbus

“Food is good, though it is the only place I know where you have to sit at a high top or a bar stool to get discounts on appetizes during happy hour. Not everyone can sit on a high seat.“

“Great old school jazz venue!“

“This is an excellent boutique bar. Their specialty drinks are delicious, and their bar staff are friendly and helpful. They also usually have great selections of various films and anime playing on the tvs. This is usually the first stop on our nights our when my partner and I have a night out in Columbus and we usually end up returning again throughout the night.“

“Denmark On High is a true Columbus gem!!! I absolutely loved this place! I participated in the Cocktail Making Class for my Sister-In-Law's Bachelorette Party a few weeks ago, and had an absolute blast! Gato is the best bartender and instructor ever!! He was a ton of fun and the drinks were some of the best I've ever had in Columbus!!! I will absolutely visit this bar again and I look forward to trying more drinks. I highly recommend this bar for everyone 21+ !!!!“

“We are from Kentucky and were in Columbus for a concert. I’ve always wanted to try a place that has been featured on Triple D, and this was the best decision ever! High Bank exceeded all expectations! We left with a full belly and A bottle of whiskey to remember them by. Food was incredible. Service was incredible. From now on, every trip to Columbus will include a stop at High Bank Distillery!“

“Had a great evening. Fabulous food and service. Will be back soon.“

“I ordered a gift card as a birthday present and there was a mix up (my end) in which they went over and above to correct for me. We don't live in Columbus but I can certainly see why my kids LOVE LawBird and their staff. We'll certainly make it a point to stop in on our next visit down.“

“Great food, great service. Only wish that the students waiting on the tables could accept tips directly to them. They do a great job and deserve the tips. I think anything tipped is given back to the school. Which is great, but the kids also deserve some extra change in their pocket in my opinion.“

“Oh how could I NOT recommend?! From creative, always changing cocktails and mocktails, I can choose to drink or stay sober EASILY. There are SO MANY fun events here. From painting, poetry, music, karaoke, trivia, ect. It is a bar that can be completely family friendly if you have children. It's like walking into a magical place where you are immediately accepted and loved.“

“Hosted a Birthday/Retirement Sing Along Karaoke Party for us. Yes it was all of the above, Nebbie and crew made it the most wonderful and memorable night. Everyone had a great time and all I had to do was show up 🥳 Great easy location for people to get to. Food was very good and served quickly, which was great for a large party. 🎉 I highly recommend as a great venue for fun events.“

“upstairs is great for a private party. My son was playing guitar and keyboard. Great staff, very cool interior decor and great place all round.“

“This was a side quest. We were supposed to visit 2 distilleries in Columbus for the distillery trail. Ended up taking a tour with Jimmy at this one and then we had to head back home. Got to bottle our own bourbon at an AMAZING price. Had tons of fun. Would come again and I recommend the bottle your own bourbon tour.“

“Love this place. What a hidden gem. Tracked in down on a recommendation from a friend, and glad I did. Bohemian with a hip, homey vibe. If I lived in Columbus, this would be my hangout.“

“A great place to watch a game! The beer was cold, plenty of TVs and I enjoyed the crowd! We had the wings and they were delicious! The service was fast and efficient. The staff seemed super happy and it showed! We also found Renie’s to be very clean! This will be my new hangout for Sunday football! A hidden gem!“

“"Be Nice To Each Other" -Sheila Ann SteuberHometown atmosphere with down to earth people. Relaxing and entertaining, known to many as the local Cheers! Everyone knows your name and are happy to see you! My mother loved this place and its owner until the day she died. May the wind always be at your back, may the sun always shine down upon your face, and may the wings of destiny carry you off to see the stars.“

“simply the best plant based restaurant in the country and probably the world. This is the spot my wife and I go for all of our special occasions even though we live in Indianapolis.“

“Everything was top notch! Excellent experience.“

“Such an interesting concept and even more thoughtfully executed. It really is a unique little bar that is built around a fun atmosphere for guests. The staff is also extremely nice and knowledgeable. I got an alcoholic slushies and got to sit next to a porthole I'm not sure many people get to say that's something they've experienced in their life so on experience alone 5/5 and once you add in that the drink I had was also immaculate I wish I could rate them higher ☺️“

“I am visiting from Boston and just happen to spontaneously tour the Ohio Statehouse. Here, I lunched at HouseTaco which locates inside the Statehouse itself. The food is quick and fresh. Chef Zach prepared the tacos on-site with passion. They were delicious! What a hidden gem!!!“

“This is a really nice place. We enjoy that it is attached to Donatos pizza, so it smells heavenly in here. Nice drink selection. Clean restrooms. They also have a really nice patio out front. They lady working the night of October 17th 2025, was really sweet & kind. I forgot to get her name.“

“We always try to make it fit the holiday pop-up at Citizens Trust. Drinks are fun and very festive, decorations are glittery and gleaming! Always a fun time with friends!“

“The ambiance of the pub is nice; things are kept clean and pleasant and the lighting is good. However, based on the name you may be under the impression that there is a DnD theme or a English / Irish / Scots influence. There is none. Rather, it's the most upscale you can get a hole in the wall bar to be before you'd end up scaring off the real down and out alcoholics and instead servicing yuppies who know to stop before a third shot. It's the nicest it can get before it transitions from dive to faux-dive.“

“soft serve margs and fresh chiccaronres with guac, two best things on the menu, and the staff is awesome 👌🏼“

“I’ve never had a bad time at Eight and Sand. The food is beyond impressive and it is reasonably priced. You will not catch me missing the $1 wings every Tuesday and the veggie wrap is incredible. Don’t sleep on the weekly food specials they are always a tasty little surprise! Friendly outgoing staff all around, an awesome patio, and a chill vibe inside. It’s my very favorite bar, there isn’t another like it!“

“My go-to for decompressing after a hard day at work, they have a wide variety of both alcoholic and nonalcoholic cocktails that tadre great and all the staff are very tolerant and understanding of all walks of life, making it a very inclusive space to be in“

“Amazing birthday dinner.. I ordered twin lobster tails. We split a wedge salad and bread basket. Husband had teriyaki salmon which was melt in your mouth perfection. Free birthday dessert was warm butter cake with fresh fruit, ice cream and raspberry sauce. Absolute perfection and amazing service. Thank you for a great celebration.“

“Not sure how this doesn't have five stars across the board. We drove from almost ten hours away and after scouring places to eat we decided to stop here. The crust is crisp, not soggy or tough with good flavor and thickness. You can't go wrong with fresh ingredients like the mozzarella and mushrooms (fresh not canned, wowee!) either. We also tried Gina's Gem and between the beautiful focaccia and the dip being creamy while also sweet with a small back burn to it, you really can't go wrong. The bar is a great place to sit, no spoilers, but the walls and shelves are filled with awesome and hilarious things that make good conversation. It's a shame this wonderful place is so far from home but we're hoping to make it a yearly tradition. Thanks for the great food, staff, and atmosphere!“

“Our server, Alix, was attentive, knowledgeable about the menu, and seemed to answer our questions before we thought of them. She is a credit to the restaurant. Our meals were well prepared and tasty. I had pasta and clam special and was very pleased. My partner enjoyed his carbonara and his side order of meatballs. I did think the ceasar salad was overdressed. In addition, the side order of bread, while delicious, should always be accompanied by olive oil (we had to request).“

“Best sours i have ever had“

“🍷 Growing up in Italy, I’m naturally a little picky when it comes to Italian food, but Forno Kitchen + Bar has become one of my favorite spots here. I often come for their wood-fired pizza and house-made pasta, both full of authentic flavor that instantly take me back to evenings in Turin. The warm atmosphere, paired with a good glass of wine, makes every visit feel like a little taste of home“

“Always a great time at The Avenue, but Brady really set the bar tonight. Constantly checking on us, very attentive to us and everyone around us, and never skipped a beat when it came to explaining specials and answering our questions. Can’t wait to come back!“

“Great food , great service clean fun . Hard send“

“There was amazing service, it was fast and the waiter was amazing. They were pretty busy when we got here but got seated right away as well as our food was fast and tasted amazing. Definitely a favorite and will come agin“

“The sweet potato crockpot.“

“Fantastic food and service. Top notch - if your in Columbus this restaurant is a must.“

“There is a lot of average Indian food out there but Rooh is on another level. It is one that we have only experience at restaurants like Deshoom in London. The hostess was so wonderful her personality is the best way to walk into a restaurant. The wait staff was perfection and unlike so many restaurants nowadays the pacing of the 3 course meal for restaurant week was perfection. Each course more tasty and beautifully prepared than the next. We don’t come to Columbus often but I would consider coming back just to eat here, and we will for sure be back next time we are in town. I just wish we would have Indian food this good anywhere near where we live. This place is a gem.“

“Wonderful experience and great atmosphere“

“Garret was great! Recommend a Gran Classico and I loved it!“

“Great Bourbon and Great Food!“

“Honestly way better than I was even expecting! A great place to grab a quick slice for a totally reasonable price. The pepperoni slice was delicious and huge. Get the breadstick, it's gigantic. A slice and breadstick for under 10 bucks is a major win in the Short North.“

“Beautiful dining area! Having a great evening.“

“We had a delightful Christmas Eve dinner with appetizers and three different entrees. The gnocchi was absolutely delicious and our favorite! The sauce was wonderful!“

“Bodega is one of those places that knows exactly what it is and leans into it. A low-key, no-frills neighborhood dive with just enough charm to make you want to hang out longer than you planned.

The funnel cake fries are the real surprise hit. Crispy, fluffy, perfectly dusted with sugar and dangerously easy to keep eating. I honestly came in for a drink and left thinking about those fries.

Huge shoutout to Salim behind the bar. Super friendly, attentive, and bringing just the right mix of smooth and playful energy that makes you feel welcome the moment you sit down. He made the whole experience better.

Bodega may not be trying to be fancy, and that’s part of its appeal. It’s a relaxed, easygoing spot with good vibes, great service, and snacks that punch way above their weight.

Would come back, especially for those funnel cake fries and Salim’s hospitality.“

“Always a lovely experience. This place provides a place for the community to gather and share their love of a variety of music. I usually go to their monthly hosting of the Central Ohio Hot Jazz Society's jam session where SwingColumbus teaches a dance lesson at the beginning and then the floor is open for dancing. It has been a staple for jazz lovers and certainly for our dance scene. We're hoping the next owners do the business justice. Maybe they can fix up the floor so it can be an even better dance space.“

“They have great beer, great wine and a great atmosphere.“

“The best of the best. You won’t be disappointed.“

“very elegant, stunning views, reasonable prices for the luxury you get“

“03/21/2026 - First time visiting The Oracle for a birthday party with some acquaintances and friends for a friend. Nice elongated bar that is visible when you enter that provides a nice variety of top of the shelf liquor, and same mixed cocktails, and drafts. There is some seating available, on the other side of the bar there is a dance space that comes alive as the evening progresses. Thank you DJ. Tight and free street parking nearby. Enjoy.“

“Very pleasant and great atmosphere where the food, drinks and hospitality was A1💯❤️❤️“

“Italian food made the way few restaurants anywhere manage to; simple, flavourful and true to itself. But the true surprise was the impeccable world class service. Thank you. This gem would be a wonderful surprise in Italy and NYC, yet, we found it in Columbus. (The mussels are a must have.)“